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Cambridgeshire Police re-established its Rural Crime Action Team in April last year following community concerns.

It exists to tackle hare coursing and poaching, as well as dealing with other rural rural crime such as plant or tractor theft, heritage crime, arson, wildlife crime and illegal raves.

Hare coursers can face fines of up to £5,000 and imprisonment and police officers have the power to seize vehicles and dogs if they believe they are being used for coursing.

Under the 2014 Anti-Social Behaviour Act officers can also make a suspected hare courser leave a designated area for up to 48 hours or to exit the entire county if they have travelled into Cambridgeshire.

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Chief Inspector James Sutherland said: "Tackling hare coursing is a priority for the Rural Crime Action Team. It can damage crops, harm animal welfare and threaten the rural economy. At times it is also linked to threatening behaviour and even violence.

"Officers have off-road vehicles at their disposal and air support from the NPAS helicopter. We have been using dispersal powers and will continue to seek to prosecute coursers wherever possible.

"We want the rural community to know that we are behind them and that we are taking the issue incredibly seriously. Our goal is simple - we want to drive hare coursing out of Cambridgeshire."

Cllr Topping added: "Although we have ground-breaking science hubs in this part of Cambridgeshire, we also have a big agriculture based economy and our countryside is looked after by our farmer."